Matcha Potency: EISAI Lab Test Results (L-Theanine, EGCG & Caffeine) (Preview)

Green is the colour of balance, renewal, and vitality — and matcha is one of the most nutrient-dense green foods you can drink. Customers tell us the same thing again and again: calmer focus, steady energy, better sleep rhythms, and an overall sense of wellbeing.

We wanted numbers to match the feeling. So we sent EISAI ceremonial grade matcha to Eurofins Food Testing Australia to measure L-theanine, caffeine, and catechin antioxidants — the compounds behind matcha’s calm-alert effect.

For heavy metals, radiation, and safety testing, see our full heavy metals in tea lab results.

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At a glance

Product tested	EISAI ceremonial grade organic matcha (Purematcha)
Lab	Eurofins Food Testing Australia Pty Ltd
Sample date	30 July 2021 · Code 726-2021-00016913
L-Theanine	21.3 mg/g (21,300 μg/g)
Caffeine	33.3 mg/g (33,300 μg/g)
EGCG	56 mg/g (56,000 μg/g)
Total catechins	65.2 mg/g per gram of powder
Full lab report	Eurofins PDF certificate (embedded below)
Safety testing	Separate reports — heavy metals & radiation

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What customers feel (and what science measures)

Purematcha drinkers often describe:

• Sharper focus without coffee jitters
• Sustained energy through the morning or study session
• Easier wind-down later in the day
• A general lift in day-to-day wellbeing

Those experiences line up with matcha’s chemistry: L-theanine promotes relaxation and alpha-brain-wave activity; caffeine adds alertness; catechins such as EGCG support antioxidant activity. Drinking the whole leaf as powder means you absorb far more of these compounds than from a tea bag — where much of the leaf never enters the cup.

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L-Theanine in EISAI matcha

L-theanine is an amino acid found mainly in tea (and some mushrooms). Shade-grown matcha retains more of it than sun-grown tea because photosynthesis converts L-theanine into other compounds.

A study of 36 commercial tea brands found green tea averaged about 6.5 mg/g L-theanine and 16.3 mg/g caffeine in infusion. Our Eurofins UPLC analysis of EISAI measured:

Compound	Method	Result
L-Theanine	M901G	21,300 μg/g (21.3 mg/g)
Caffeine	M904F	33,300 μg/g (33.3 mg/g)

Sample: EISAI Ceremonial Grade Matcha (Purematcha) · Reception 18 °C · Eurofins · 30 July 2021

That is roughly three times the mean L-theanine reported for commercial green tea infusions — consistent with shade-growing, stone-milling, and drinking the entire leaf.

Why ceremonial grade runs higher

• Shade slows conversion of L-theanine into catechins
• Young leaves at the top of the plant hold more chlorophyll and amino acids
• Whole-leaf consumption — you ingest 100% of what is in the powder

Health associations (research summary)

L-theanine is widely studied for:

• Calm without sedation — supporting alpha brain waves
• Stress and anxiety — several trials link it to reduced stress in demanding situations
• Sleep quality — some research suggests improved sleep when combined with GABA pathways

Matcha is one of the most concentrated natural dietary sources. One gram of EISAI powder delivers about 21.3 mg of L-theanine — a meaningful dose from a single serve.

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Caffeine + L-theanine: the calm-alert pairing

Taken together, caffeine and L-theanine produce what many drinkers call “calm alertness” — focused but not wired.

• L-theanine smooths the edge of caffeine
• Caffeine lifts reaction time and working memory
• Matcha’s antioxidants slow caffeine release over 4–6 hours compared with a quick espresso spike

Research combining 50 mg caffeine + 100 mg L-theanine has shown faster reaction times and improved accuracy on cognitive tasks. A daily matcha bowl delivers both compounds in food form, bound to the leaf matrix — which is why capsules and energy drinks now copy the pairing.

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Catechins and EGCG

Catechins are polyphenol antioxidants. EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is the most studied — found almost exclusively in tea.

In 1 gram of EISAI ceremonial matcha, Eurofins measured:

Catechin	Result (μg/g)
Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)	56,000
Epicatechin gallate	9,210
Other individual catechins	<5 each
Total catechins	65,200

Sample: EISAI Ceremonial Grade Matcha · Eurofins · 30 July 2021 · Code 726-2021-00016913

EGCG has been investigated for anti-inflammatory effects and cell-health pathways in numerous studies. Green tea catechins are among the most researched dietary antioxidants on earth — though more human clinical work is always needed before making disease claims.

You also find catechins in apples, berries, and dark chocolate — but matcha concentrates them because you consume the entire leaf, not just an infusion.

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Eurofins laboratory certificate

Below is the original Eurofins Food Testing Australia report for this potency analysis — L-theanine, caffeine, and catechin content in EISAI ceremonial grade matcha (sample code 726-2021-00016913, received 30 July 2021). We publish it in full for transparency.

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The bottom line

Modern supplements promise quick fixes. Matcha has a 1,000-year head start — cultivated by Zen monks for the same calm focus we measure today in L-theanine and EGCG.

Introducing a daily matcha ritual is, in our view, one of the simplest ways to support mind and body with whole-food nutrition — provided you choose Japanese origin, transparent testing, and a grade that matches how you drink it.

Explore next:

• Matcha buyers guide — grades, origin, and what to buy in Australia
• Ceremonial vs culinary matcha
• Heavy metals & safety lab results
• Matcha Comparison Chart

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Frequently asked questions

How much L-theanine is in one serve of EISAI matcha?

About 21.3 mg per gram of powder. A typical ceremonial serve is 2 g (roughly 42 mg L-theanine) — though many drinkers use 1–1.5 g depending on whisk strength and latte style.

Does matcha have more caffeine than coffee?

Per gram, matcha is concentrated (our EISAI test: 33.3 mg/g caffeine), but a full bowl often uses 1–2 g of powder — less total caffeine than a large coffee, with a slower release thanks to antioxidants and amino acids.

What is EGCG?

Epigallocatechin gallate — the primary catechin antioxidant in green tea. Our EISAI sample measured 56 mg/g.

Who tested this matcha?

Eurofins Food Testing Australia using UPLC methods (M901G for theanine, M904F for caffeine, M903W for catechins). Sample code 726-2021-00016913, dated 30 July 2021. View the full PDF report.

Is Purematcha matcha safe as well as potent?

Yes — potency and safety are tested separately. See published heavy metal, radiation, and pesticide results for every product in our safety lab article.

Which grade should I buy for daily drinking?

For straight bowls and health-led rituals, start with ceremonial — EISAI or GOKOU. For lattes most days, premium grades often offer better value. See the buyers guide.

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References

1. Klára Boros, Nikoletta Jedlinszki, Dezső Csupor (2016). Theanine and Caffeine Content of Infusions Prepared from Commercial Tea Samples
2. J.M. Everett et al. (2016). Theanine consumption, stress and anxiety in human clinical trials: A systematic review
3. Suhyeon Kim et al. (2019). GABA and l-theanine mixture decreases sleep latency and improves NREM sleep
4. Kimberly Mantzke Baker, Angela C. Bauer (2015). Green Tea Catechin, EGCG, Suppresses PCB 102-Induced Proliferation in Estrogen-Sensitive Breast Cancer Cells
5. Gloria Bonuccelli, Federica Sotgia (2018). Matcha green tea (MGT) inhibits the propagation of cancer stem cells
6. Tomokazu Ohishi et al. (2016). Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea